Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Apr 6, 2017
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
7%
of 134 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3
What this page shows
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Toyota Avalon submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming steering
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
AirbagsSteering
Filed Apr 6, 2017
Crash reported1 injury reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 TOYOTA AVALON. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT AFTER THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER THREE TIMES. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES AND CUTS TO THE BODY, INJURIES TO THE NECK, BOTH KNEES, AND THE LEFT ANKLE. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
NHTSA ID
10970903
Incident
Mar 26, 2017
Mileage
200,000 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 7, 2013
TOYOTA KEEPS SENDING ME SAFETY RECALL NOTICES, BUT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP HERE IN THE UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS(USVI) REFUSES TO DO THE WORK. THEY KEEP SAYING MY VEHICLE IS NOT IN THEIR SYSTEM, AND THEY WON'T PUT IT IN THEIR SYSTEM. HOW DO I SOLVE THIS PROBLEM? *TR
NHTSA ID
10501910
Incident
Mar 7, 2013
Steering
Filed Nov 16, 2011
Fire reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH AND HE BEGAN TO SMELL A BURNING ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY CAME APART AND TWO OF THE BELTS WERE DISENGAGED AS A RESULT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 67,000.
NHTSA ID
10436056
Incident
Nov 14, 2011
Mileage
67,000 mi
AirbagsSteering
Filed Oct 5, 2011
Crash reported1 death reported
3/30/11 COMING OUT OF A RIGHT HAND TURN, IT LOOKED LIKE THE STEERING LOCKED INTO A POSITION WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE THE ABILITY TO STEER. THE CAR SLID AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WAS CRUSHED INTO A TREE. THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT WORK. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED AND WAS LATER PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE HOSPITAL FROM INTERNAL INJURIES. THE CAR HAS BEEN PRESERVED AT A STORAGE FACILITY IN TEXAS SINCE SHORTLY AFTER THE ACCIDENT. IT IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. NOT SURE WHETHER THE GAS PEDAL STUCK OR NOT. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A BLACK BOX IN THESE CARS WHICH COULD POSSIBLY LEAD TO ANSWERS. THE STEERING ON THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED AND THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR THE REPAIR IN JANUARY 2011. I HAVE COPIES OF THE REPAIR BILL. PLEASE SEE THAT NO OTHERS ARE HURT. UPDATED 10/31/11 *BF
NHTSA ID
10429748
Incident
Mar 30, 2011
Steering
Filed Jan 19, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA AVALON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SKID CONTROL, ABS AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND CONCLUDED THAT THE STEERING POSITIONING SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED REPLACING. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 173,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000.
NHTSA ID
10377899
Incident
Jan 19, 2008
Mileage
140,000 mi
Steering
Filed Oct 25, 2010
Crash reported1 injury reported
I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 TOYOTA AVALON ON THE FREEWAY. A CAR CUT ME OFF SO I SWERVED TO AVOID IT. AFTER THAT, I COULD NOT CONTROL THE STEERING IN MY CAR. I HEADED TOWARD A WALL AND TRIED TO TURN AWAY FROM IT, BUT THE STEERING DID NOT RESPOND EVEN THOUGH I WAS TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. I CRASHED HEAD FIRST INTO THE WALL. *TR
NHTSA ID
10362253
Incident
Oct 16, 2010
Mileage
110,000 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 27, 2010
2001 TOYOTA AVALON WHILE DRIVING IN A RESIDENTAL AREA AND TURING RIGHT FROM ONE STREET TO ANOTHER, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND I WAS UNABLE TO STRAIGHTEN THE WHEEL. I HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES TO AVOID RUNNING INTO A RESIDENTAIL WALL. AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES, I MOVED THE TRANSMISSION FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL AND THEN REVERSE. THE STEERING WHEEL UNLOCKED. I DROVE THE TWO BLOCKS TO MY HOME AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THEY SAY THEY HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ID
10352399
Incident
Aug 25, 2010
Mileage
132,500 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed Aug 27, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA AVALON. ON AUGUST 26, 2007, THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING WHEEL REMAINED LOCKED, EVEN WHILE DRIVING. HE JIGGLED THE WHEEL AND IT UNLOCKED. HE STATED THAT THE INTERLOCK FAILS TO RELEASE. THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE PURCHASE DATE AND SPEED WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 81,740. UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION CYLINDER BRACKET
NHTSA ID
10200895
Incident
Aug 26, 2007
Mileage
81,740 mi
Steering
Filed Dec 12, 2000
STEERING FEEDBACK BECOMES TOO LIGHT AND UNSTABLE AT HIGHT SPEED (65MPH). ON THE SECOND VISIT TO THE DEALER, THE TECHNICIAN WHO TEST DROVE THE CAR ADMITTED THIS CARS STEERING FEELS LOOSER. DEALER ADJUSTED THE ALIGNMENT WITH NO POSITIVE CHANGES TO THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ID
737687
Incident
Dec 6, 2000
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own